This Week in Bluetooth & UWB

Mar 27, 2026

In This Issue

→ LE Audio enters the operating room
→ Espressif's most connected MCU yet
→ FCC urged to modernize UWB rules
→ DIY X-ray vision with UWB + radar
→ $17M bet on LE-UWB wireless

Bluetooth LE Beacons Are Turning Workers Into Industry 5.0 Agents

Electronics360

Blecon's new software solution, Blecon Agent, transforms Zebra Technologies devices already in the hands of front-line workers into an autonomous Bluetooth tracking network with continuous asset visibility. The workforce itself functions as the sensing layer, with visibility coming through the devices teams already carry, the spaces they already move through and the workflows that already exist. No new infrastructure or worker skillsets are required. "All of that real estate that is covered by the people who are on the front line is now also a tracking and sensing network," explained CEO Simon Ford. Blecon Agent can be rolled out to a whole fleet overnight.

Bluetooth LE Audio Powers a Doppler Device for Surgical Blood Flow Monitoring

Nordic Semiconductor

Remington Medical's VascuChek is a handheld, cordless ultrasound-based device that has been FDA cleared for intraoperative use. It uses the Doppler effect to detect and listen to blood flow within blood vessels, allowing surgeons to check whether blood is still flowing properly after repairing, bypassing or grafting a vessel. Both the transceiver handpiece and speaker dock employ a u-blox NORA-B1 module built on Nordic's nRF5340 SoC, enabling Bluetooth LE Audio wireless connectivity. "We were initially skeptical that LE Audio could deliver high sound quality and minimal latency while also being low-power," says Michael Fuller, Principal R&D Electrical Engineer. "We were impressed that the nRF5340 SoC had sound quality right on par with the best Bluetooth Classic alternative, while also having the lowest latency."

ESP32-S31: Espressif's Most Connected MCU Yet Adds Gigabit Ethernet

CNX Software

Espressif's upcoming ESP32-S31 is a dual-core RISC-V microcontroller featuring one high-performance core with FPU and SIMD instructions, and one low-power core. It combines Gigabit Ethernet, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 802.15.4 for Zigbee, Thread, and Matter. The chip includes 512 KB of SRAM, support for external octal PSRAM and flash up to 64 MB, a 2D graphics accelerator, and JPEG codec support. With 62 GPIO pins — more than any other ESP32 variant — it's Espressif's most versatile wireless SoC to date.

Tria Technologies Launches Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth LE Modules for Embedded Systems

New Electronics

Avnet-owned Tria Technologies introduced two wireless modules for embedded systems. The SPB611 offers dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 with an optional tri-radio configuration adding 802.15.4 support for Thread and Zigbee. Both modules arrive in a compact 14 x 14 mm package, operate across industrial temperature ranges (-40 to +85°C), and come pre-certified to accelerate time-to-market.

Windows 11 LE Audio Shared Audio Adds Galaxy Buds 4 and Sony WF-1000XM6

Windows Blog

The latest Windows 11 Canary build expands LE Audio shared audio support with three new accessories: Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro, Sony WF-1000XM6, and Xbox Wireless Headset. The update also adds individual volume sliders for each listener, allowing independent volume adjustment without affecting the other. A new taskbar indicator appears while audio is being shared, offering quick access to sharing settings.

Auracast Is Bluetooth's Coolest New Trick — Hands-On

MakeUseOf

Auracast enables one device to broadcast audio to multiple receivers simultaneously with cross-platform compatibility. Built on Bluetooth LE Audio using the LC3 codec, it offers high-quality sound with minimal latency and extended battery life compared to traditional Bluetooth. Android 16 now supports Auracast, making it accessible to mainstream users with compatible devices. The author highlights transformative potential for public spaces — stadiums, museums, and airports could deliver personalized audio to many listeners at once.

NXP Launches Turnkey UWB RTLS Starter Kit for Industrial Positioning

Embedded

NXP's new omlox RTLS Starter Kit integrates UWB hardware, localization software, and analytics for scalable industrial positioning. Powered by the Trimension SR048 UWB SoC, the kit includes UWB tags and anchors supporting TDoA, RToF, and downlink TDoA modes, operating from -40°C to 115°C. Developed with SynchronicIT and Flowcate, it enables asset tracking, robot guidance, worker safety zones, and indoor navigation — scalable from pilot to full facility without hardware changes.

DIY Rig Uses UWB and mmWave Radar to See Through Walls

Hackster.io

A maker project combines millimeter wave radar sensors that detect human presence and subtle movements through walls with ultra-wideband anchors for indoor positioning. Multiple ESP32 boards connect to mmWave sensors, transmitting data wirelessly to a central hub. UWB anchors triangulate the wearer's position like a personal indoor GPS. A robotic vacuum with LiDAR generated accurate floor plans, and an Android smartphone overlays bounding boxes onto live video showing people's locations behind walls.

Industry Pushes FCC to Modernize 25-Year-Old UWB Regulations

JD Supra

The FCC's original UWB regulations, established nearly 25 years ago, restrict outdoor devices to low-power, handheld-only use. Modern applications like apartment doorframe security systems require individual waivers, placing significant strain on FCC resources. A petition seeks permission for non-pulse-based modulations, fixed outdoor uses not limited to handheld devices, and a duty cycle approach as an alternative to the existing 10-second transmission cessation requirement. The public comment period closed in February 2026.

SPARK Microsystems Raises CAD $17M for LE-UWB Wireless Technology

Business Wire

Montreal-based SPARK Microsystems closed a CAD $17 million Series B follow-on financing round co-led by Idealist Capital and Real Ventures. The investment fuels commercialization of LE-UWB (Low-Energy Ultra-Wideband) technology, which offers ultra-low power, low latency, and high throughput for challenging RF environments. Target applications include AI wearables, AR/VR headsets, gaming peripherals, industrial sensors, autonomous robots, and medical devices. CEO Fares Mubarak says the funding accelerates delivery to innovators limited by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in power-constrained settings.